T is for Tryfan

Tryfan is another of the British Isles’s most recognizable mountains, is distinctive pointed shape and rugged crags have earned it the nickname of the ‘Dragon’s Back‘, in reference to the red dragon of Wales.

Tryfan is located at the edge of the Glyderau range, situated right next to the A5 road, making it a very easily accessible peak. At 3010ft, it is one of the Welsh 3000 and is recorded as being the fifteenth highest mountain in Wales. There are two routes to the summit, the south and the north ridge, with the north ridge constituting one long grade one scramble. However Tryfan is one of the few mountains in the British Isles that requires the use of your hands to reach the top, which makes it a really good mountain for those wanting an introduction to the experience.

I should know this as Tryfan was the first mountain I ever climbed, all the way back in 2005. Tryfan is not only the mountain that started my love of mountain climbing but it also it inspired my love for North Wales.

The summit is crowned by two stone monolith’s, Adam and Eve. For those climbers who are brave or crazy enough, one can attempt to gain the ‘Freedom of Tryfan’, which involves jumping between the two huge boulders. However there is serious exposure on either side and you definitely need a good head for heights, in all the times I’ve climbed Tryfan I have yet to attempt the leap, though its always tempting.

Little 9 year old me siting on Eve (or Adam). Gives an you idea of the actual gravity of the leap between them

Evening over Tryfan

Looking over Tryfan’s south ridge

Looking towards Tryfan’s summit

Tryfan (centre) from the edge of the Ogwen Valley

Looking down on Lyn Ogwen from Tryfan’s north ridge

The col between Tryfan and Bristly Ridge

Some people attempt the leap

An extreme close up of Tryfan’s snowy summit

the car park at the foot of Tryfan

Tryfan’s ‘dragon back’

Some people attempt the leap

Tryfan from the Elidir Fawr

Cwn Bochlwyd, on the route up Tryfan’s south ridge

From Moel Siabod, Tryfan just pokes above the mountains

Mountain goats on Tryfan

The view from Tryfan’s summit

Mountain goats rutting on tryfan

Tryfan in the snow

The view from Tryfan’s summit

If you enjoyed these photos feel free to write in the comments, or leave like and thanks for reading.

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About The Author

Hi there, I'm Callum (aka SnowdonStudent), I'm a 21 year old history student at Bangor University in Gwynedd, Wales. I started this blog basically to share my adventures with people and to encourage others to experience and write about their own travels. Living in North Wales I have ample of opportunity to escape into Snowdonia National Park where most of my writings take place, it is my dream to inspire more people to visit this stunning landscape.

8 Comments

I’ll admit its raining right now here in Wales. Its just that I only go out on sunny days, if there’s a rainy day here in Wales, you probably won’t see it in my pics. Besides when your here for two years your bound to see at least some sun

Tryfan was your first mountain? You lucky guy – I had Snowdon and it took years to find out about Tryfan and the delights of the others. I also didn’t fancy the leap the first few times I was up there. I’m currently in the process of writing a short series on my love affair with these giant lumps of rock and how I built up to doing all the 3,000fters in one day!

About me

Hi there, I'm Callum (aka SnowdonStudent), I'm a history student at Bangor University in Gwynedd, Wales. I started this blog basically to share my adventures will people and to encourage others to experience and write about their own travels. Living in North Wales I have ample of opportunity to escape into Snowdonia National Park where most of my writings take place, it is my dream to inspire more people to visit this stunning landscape.